Prisoners with Substance Abuse and Mental Health Problems - Research Paper Example

Prisoners with Substance Abuse and Mental Health Problems Hypothesis Many individuals entering the criminal justice system in term of incarceration have underlying mental illnesses. Although mental illnesses can serious problems there are many forms of treatment available to help correct the illness. Many incarceration systems utilize counselors and other medical staffs in assisting inmates dealing with mental illnesses. I hypothesize that individuals that are presented with medical attention in regards to their mental illness will seek treatment while in the criminal justice system and that these individuals will have a higher likelihood of being paroled. Article One: Who Requests Psychological Services Upon Admission to Prison? This article written by Diamond, Harzke, Magaletta and Baxter (2009) seeks to determine who seeks psychological services when entering prisons. Few studies have sought to explain the common characteristics among inmates seeking for mental illnesses. This study seeks to determine the characteristics of inmate’s requesting psychological services upon their admission to prison. The researchers utilized a quantitative research including a sample population of 2,600 offenders that were newly admitted to a federal incarceration facility. During this exploratory study participants were assessed using the self reporting assessment the Psychological Services Inmate Questionnaire (PSIQ). Participants came from 14 prisons throughout different locations in medium risk facilities. The research sample consisted of 2068 men (n=2068) and 606 women (n=606). The race composition of the study was 41% African American, 26% White, 32% Hispanic and 2% other. One fifth of the participants were non-United States citizens. All statistical analysis was done using SPSS. The study concluded that 79% of all participants had children. In addition male participants were younger than female participants. Females were more likely to report previous mental health treatment including medication usage, suicidal ideation, and general mental health illnesses with the exclusion of hallucinations. The most commonly reported symptoms of mental illnesses corresponded with symptoms of depression and anxiety in both men and women sampled. Of the participants sampled only 11% requested psychological services/treatment while incarcerated. Based upon the results of the study researchers further hypothesize that many individuals entering prison facilities suffered from mental health illnesses prior to their incarceration. Further research is needed to confirm this hypothesis. Article Two: Does the Use of Telemental Health Alter the Treatment Experience? This performed by Morgan and Patrick (2008) seeks to determine the effects of telemental health services on inmates. Overcrowded prisons often leave many inmates unable to receive the mental health services needed due to financial constraints (for example, transporting inmates). Telemental health services administer counseling services over a phone. Little previous research has been performed in regards to telemental health services. Participants included 186 males that were previously diagnosis with a mental health illness all of which were receiving mental health services. The groups were divided as followed: 50 inmates received counseling in person in a general population prison, 36 inmates received telemental health services in a general prison population, 50 inmates received counseling in person in a psychiatric prison and 50 inmates received telemental health psychiatric services in the general prison population. The study utilized an experimental research design. Inmates were provided with services and then assessed with a self reporting scale similar to the Likert-type scale. Limitations in this study include the small sample size. The quntative data collected determined that there were no significant differences between inmates administered telemental health services and inmates administered in person counseling services. Article Three: Modified Therapeutic Community Treatment for Offenders with MICA Disorders: Substance Use Outcomes Researchers Sullivan, McKendrick and Sacks (2007) seek to determine the outcomes of offenders suffering from “Mental Illness and Chemical Abuse (MICA)” (p. 2) utilizing Modified TC (MTC) treatments in determining the effectiveness of reducing criminal behavior. Inmates participating had a mean sentence of twelve month in an incarceration facility. Participants were divided into three groups as followed: Group A: Upon release from incarceration these offenders elect to continue participation for six months in an MTC program, B: Offenders released from incarceration that did not continue with an MTC program and C: offenders that continued treatment in other programs. Limitations of this study include the small sample size (N=139). This research focused on the longitudinal results produced. The results determined that participants that were assigned to group A (using MTC program for six months after release) had the most successful results. These individuals demonstrated a reduction in drug use in comparison to individuals that were assigned to group C. In comparison to groups A and C, group B reported high drug usage rates. Further research is needed to determine the best treatment methods for drug use after incarceration. Article Four: Prisoners with Substance Abuse and Mental Health Problems: Use of Health and Health Services Researchers Hiller, Webster and Garrity (2005) seek to determine the relationship between prisoners with substance abuse and mental health problems and the usage of treatment/health services. Participants included 661 inmates in multiple Kentucky prisons. All participants were male. Limitations in the research include the lack of variability in races as participants were mainly white. Participants were incarcerated inmates in medium and low security prisons. Participants were assigned to groups based upon their history (self-reported) of drug use. The first group included participants that had been diagnosis with substance abuse. The second group included participants that had been diagnosis with mental illnesses but not substance abuse disorders. The third group had been diagnosis with both disorders. The final group was composed of individuals that had not been previously diagnosis with either disorders. The study was an experimental design producing quantative data. Data was assessed based upon the assigned groups in order to produce statistical results in determining the correlation between mental illnesses, drug use, incarceration and the usage of health services. The research determined that individuals in groups one, two and three were more likely than individuals in group four to utilize medical services while incarcerated. These individuals were more likely to have been diagnosis with physical illnesses as well as mental health and/or substance abuse problems. Article Five: Mental health consultations in a prison population: a descriptive study Kjelsberg, Hartivig, and Kuisma (2006), note that the psychiatric illness rate is higher in prisons in comparison to general society. This research study seeks to determine the relationship between new inmates in prison and current mental illnesses present using an experimental design. This research study focuses on the use of quantative data. The sample included 928 participants (N=928). Participants were administered a self-reporting assessment during the first week of incarcerations. As protocol all inmates are assessed of mental illnesses during their first week of prison. During this time period individuals suffering from mental illnesses are administered interventions. Interventions utilized include psychiatric and psychotherapeutic. The results determined that 25% of individuals assessed had a psychiatric intervention. In addition 20% had a psychotherapeutic intervention. The most common mental illnesses reported were depression, anxiety, substance abuse/dependency and personality disorders. Concurrent psychiatric and psychological interventions were employed in 52% of individuals that received interventions during the first week of prison. This research study demonstrates the prevalence of mental health issues demonstrated in newly admitted inmates. Researchers further hypothesize that these illnesses contributed to the individual’s crime. However, further research is needed to determine the correlation between mental health illnesses and the contributions to crime. References Conklin, T. J., Lincoln, T., & Tuthil, R. W. (2000, December). Self-Reported Health and Prior Health Behaviors of Newly Admitted Correctional Inmates.. American Journal of Public Health, 90(12), 1934-1941. Hiller, M. L., Webster, M. J., & Garrity, T. F. (2005, Feb). Prisoners with Substance Abuse and Mental Health Problems: Use of Health and Health Services. American Journal of Drug & Alcohol Abuse, 31(1), 1-20 Kjelsberg, E., Hartivig, P., & Kuisma, I. (2006, Jun). Mental health consultations in a prison population: a descriptive study. BMC Psychiatry, 6(27). Morgan, R. D., Patrick, A., & Magaletta, P. (2008, Feb). Does the Use of Telemental Health Alter the Treatment Experience? Inmates' Perceptions of Telemental Health versus Face-to-Face Treatment Modalities. Journal of Consulting & Clinical Psychology, 76(I), 158-162. Sullivan, C., McKendrick, K., & Scaks, S. (2007, November). Modified Therapeutic Community Treatment for Offenders with MICA Disorders: Substance Use Outcomes. American Journal of Drug & Alcohol, 33(6), 828-832. Read More